RETAIL ROUNDUP:

The greatest flat-screen television of all time faces the front entrance of the Pioneer Electronics Retail Store at South Coast Plaza.

At least, that’s according to Home Theater magazine, which earlier this year published a rave review of the Pioneer Elite KURO plasma TV. The Pioneer store at South Coast Plaza, the first of its kind in the United States, displays the 50-inch set by its front doors with a sign next to it sporting the words “Greatest Flat Panel Ever” in quotes.

Assistant store manager Mark Ohlwiler said the review made for easy advertising.

“It just kind of gives a non-biased account of the TV when you have a respected industry magazine that makes that statement,” he said.

He noted that the TV, which retails for $5,999, has been selling in increasing numbers since Pioneer began stocking it in August.

“A lot of families are getting them for the holidays,” he said. “This is the family gift.”

Another popular holiday item at Pioneer is the Blu-ray Disc player, a high-resolution home-viewing system that some believe will replace regular DVDs. The store offers the player for $999 — along with five free Blu-ray Discs, which buyers can choose out of a catalog of nearly 1,000.

Call the store at (714) 540-8000 for more information.

Boutique jeans, jewelry and handbags

Around the corner from Pioneer, another South Coast Plaza store has a number of holiday gift items at the ready.

Intermix, a women’s boutique that opened in New York in 1992 and opened its Costa Mesa location last month, offers clothes by three exclusive designers as well as handbags, jewelry and other high-end apparel.

When Intermix opened at South Coast Plaza Nov. 17, it became the shopping center’s 111th Orange County-exclusive store.

So far, manager Brandy Billings said, jeans have been the boutique’s top seller — particularly the Blank and J Brand lines, which retail for $78 and $185, respectively.

“A lot of people come in and buy outfits and give them as gifts,” Billings said.

Another popular item, she said, are the designer handbags, including a bright orange leather bag from Chloe and a vegan one by animal-rights activist Stella McCartney. Both bags sell for more than $1,000.

Call the store at (714) 754-7895.

MICHAEL MILLER may be reached at (714) 966-4617 or at [email protected].